Webster Thomas forward Luke Piazza runs past testicular cancer

The Webster Thomas soccer forward was diagnosed with testicular cancer on Jan. 22, but the senior came back strong and leads the Titans into Friday's Section V Class AA Tournament opener with 10 goals.
Jeff DiVeronica

Webster Thomas forward Luke Piazza, right, and Churchville-Chili goalie Alex Voglewede were honored before their teams' Sept. 5 at Thomas. Each overcame cancer in the past year. Their teams open the Section V Class AA Tournament on Friday against each other.(Photo: WEBSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT)

When Luke Piazza heard "testicular cancer," in the doctor's office on Jan. 22, he admits he felt "scared" at first. But then his competitive juices started flowing and the Webster Thomas soccer player became determined. He was going to run past cancer just like he does defenders.

"Cancer became my No. 1 opponent," the senior forward says, "and I knew I’d do whatever it took to beat it."

And he did.

After three rounds of intense chemotherapy, Piazza resumed playing in late April with his club team and in July he was pronounced cancer-free. This fall he doubled his goal production from a year ago and leads the Titans with 10 (plus two assists). Runners-up in the Section V Class AA Tournament a year ago, the No. 5 seeds have a difficult test in Friday's postseason opener.

There's another plot twist Friday. Piazza will be going against C-C goalkeeper Alex Voglewede, who isn't just his teammate on their club squad (Doug Miller Soccer). He's also a cancer survivor.

Voglewede, a senior, was diagnosed with leukemia a little over a year ago, missed last year and barely made it back to play this fall. Several months ago when Piazza was getting treatment at Strong Memorial Hospital, he could look across a hallway and see Voglewede there, too.

On Friday they'll look across the sideline and know one of their high school careers will be over within a few hours. It's a tough draw for both. C-C was upset, 3-2, in its finale against No. 8 Gates Chili (6-10), a damaging blow to its seeding.

But if any players understand that sometimes life isn't fair and you have to deal, it's Piazza and Voglewede, who were honored before their match on Sept. 5 at Thomas.

Luke Piazza, right, with his close friend, Michael Rissone, before last spring's Junior Prom. Rissone started a GoFundMe page for Piazza that raised more than $10,000.(Photo: PROVIDED)

"I just tried to stay positive no matter what," says Piazza, who celebrates his 17th birthday Tuesday. "I always tried to keep a smile on my face because I knew if I was positive nothing would happen except good things."

He had great support from his family, including parents Jennifer and Tom, brother Tyler, 22, and younger sister Gianna, a junior at Thomas. Gianna designed purple bracelets with the initials "LP," and the phrase, "Kick Cancer in the Nuts."

His friends also pitched in, shaving their heads when he lost his hair from chemo, but one in particular, Michael Rissone, came through with more than moral support. Friends since they were in second grade, Rissone started a GoFundMe page for his pal that raised more than $10,000.

"Luke is a remarkable young man and we are so proud of him," says his mother, a registered nurse (radiology) for University Medical Imaging.

Piazza made his return for DMS in late April at a tournament in Ohio. At 5 feet 9, 145 pounds, he has a lanky build. His biggest weapon on the field: his legs.

"He’s got a lot of pace and he’s very tenacious, just one of those guys that has a motor. Some kids have a motor, some kids don’t," says Webster Schroeder coach David Urbanski, who watched Piazza score all four goals in a 4-1 Thomas win over its town rival on Oct. 4. "He just tore us apart. He’s intense. That’s what you need out of a striker."

An 87-average student who wants to study pharmacy in college, Piazza has a hunger for the goal. Thomas coach Steve Grose says Piazza seems even more ravenous in big matches. In addition to the opponent being Schroeder, Piazza's brother was home from college that night he scored four times. Piazza also scored in last year's Class AA championship match, a 2-1 loss to Fairport that spoiled a Cinderella run by the seventh-seeded Titans.

"When he gets motivated, he does become a better player," Grose says. "He likes that extra incentive that’s on him."

"He’s probably just getting back physically to where he was before all this happened," Grose says. "He’s very fast and I think he’s really improved. Honestly, his left foot is significantly better than it was a year ago and he has a little more movement to his game compared to just straightforward movement."